Markwayne Mullin is now the newest member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to face frustration inside the White House, following what allies describe as a run of missteps.
Mullin won confirmation in March after Trump selected him to succeed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security following her removal. Just weeks later, Trump also dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, installing Todd Blanche in her place.
According to a new Wall Street Journal report, citing people familiar with the situation, Mullin’s standing with Trump may be slipping amid concerns that he has appeared politically weak and drifted from the president’s hardline border security message.
One early flashpoint came in late June, after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to end temporary protections for Haitian immigrants living in the United States. Mullin addressed the ruling during an appearance on CNN.
Speaking with Jake Tapper, Mullin suggested that some immigrants might eventually be able to come back to the US, saying they could “try to fill out the paperwork” to remain under permanent legal status, or the government would assist them in returning to their home country — remarks some administration officials viewed as off-message.
The Homeland Security secretary also reportedly irritated Trump when he pushed to call off the Fourth of July fireworks display on the National Mall because lightning had been detected nearby.
Trump later appeared to poke fun at Mullin’s caution during his remarks that night, turning the episode into a public punchline.
“One of my very brilliant people backstage said, ‘Don’t worry about it, sir. We can do it maybe next week,’” Trump told the crowd. “I said, ‘It doesn’t work next week.’ This is the big day. We want July Fourth. We’re not looking for July something else.”
Markwayne Mullin (pictured right) has become the latest cabinet member to draw the ire of President Donald Trump (pictured left) over a series of recent mistakes
Mullin (pictured) was confirmed in March after being named Trump’s pick to replace ousted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
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As July wore on, DHS came under fire after two immigrants were killed in ICE-involved shootings in Texas and Maine in the span of a week.
Mullin put a temporary halt to federal immigration officials stopping vehicles for check-ins.
An administration official told WSJ that Trump was not made aware of the move before Mullin made it. Trump reversed the policy the next day via a Truth Social post.
This past week saw another reported mistake from Mullin, as he spoke at a meeting of the National Governors Association in his home state of Oklahoma.
Mullin drew criticism from the administration for saying that the idea of immigrants stealing American jobs, while ‘true in some industries, it’s not true for all industries.’
He added that immigration may be a way to fix some industries’ struggles with low labor-force participation rates.
The Daily Mail reported of the MAGA revolt over the comments, as Trump ally Laura Loomer soon after called for the President to fire Mullin and said he hasn’t increased mass deportations.
The torrent of criticism from the Trump-aligned spectrum included former Customs and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, Laura Loomer, Tomi Lahren and Steve Bannon, among others, and came after Mullin used a speech in Oklahoma City to strike a more moderate tone on immigration.
The first gaffe came in late June, after the Supreme Court ruled Trump was allowed to end protections for Haitian immigrants living in the US. Mullin, in comments administration officials said were out of step, told Jake Tapper that some could potentially return to the US
The secretary also drew annoyance from Trump when he pressed to cancel the Fourth of July fireworks show on the National Mall because there was lightning in the area
Mullin’s reputation also took a hit following his praise of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, with whom he previously told Politico he shares a ‘real good relationship’ with.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, also a Democrat, praised Mullin’s remarks in Oklahoma City as a breath of fresh air from a senior Trump official.
There has been an ‘absolute difference in what we have seen from the start of the [Trump] administration until now,’ he said.
But several hours after his speech, Mullin appeared to have gotten the message from Trump’s allies loud and clear.
‘NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever,’ Mullin said on social media, apparently reneging on his earlier remarks.
Mullin has also clashed with Trump allies over his pick for the new head of ICE, Lance Schroyer.
The Daily Mail revealed earlier this week that his nomination has been indefinitely shelved despite Mullin’s protests.
ICE officials balked at the idea, suggesting Schroyer lacks federal government or immigration experience.
This past week saw another reported mistake from Mullin, as a spoke at a meeting of the National Governors Association in his home state of Oklahoma
Mullin has also clashed with Trump allies over his pick for the new head of ICE , Lance Schroyer
Tom Homan, the President’s border czar, has also reportedly objected to the pick.
Sources familiar with the ICE director search told the Daily Mail they are not aware of Mullin’s vetting of other candidates.
Instead, sources say, Mullin tapped his ‘buddy’ and took his case directly to Trump without consulting two of the President’s top immigration advisers: Stephen Miller and Homan.
A White House source insisted earlier this week that Schroyer remains President Trump’s nominee to lead ICE, and Congressional scheduling should not be interpreted as any personnel announcements.
The Daily Mail reported late last month that Schroyer’s confirmation appeared in doubt, with fresh scrutiny over his lack of experience and his personal baggage, according to eight current and former DHS officials.
A senior administration official confirmed to WSJ that Trump is growing more and more frustrated with Mullin but has no plans to fire him.
‘President Trump has confidence in his Cabinet to carry out the agenda the American people voted for,’ White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement.
‘Thanks to President Trump’s leadership we have the most secure border in history, we are deporting record numbers of illegal aliens, we have cracked down on illegal alien fraud, and we are denaturalizing individuals who illegally procured American citizenship.’
Markwayne Mullin is sworn in during a hearing for the position of US Secretary of Homeland Security at the US Capitol, in March
A spokesperson for the DHS told WSJ that the administration is ‘one team and we have one fight.’
Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico crossed party lines and sided with the majority of Republicans to approve the nomination, which was confirmed 54-45 in March.
However, Republican Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, voted against the nominee due to their open hostility toward each other. Mullin had previously called Paul a ‘freaking snake’ – but later apologized.
Ex-DHS Secretary Noem was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier in March after much scrutiny over her alleged affair with top staffer Corey Lewandowski, which both have denied, and other scandals.
The President lauded Mullin for his Native American roots and claimed the Senator ‘will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security’ in the Truth Social post announcing his pick to replace Noem.
Mullin has been a staunch ally of Trump’s policies during his time in Congress, and has appeared frequently on cable TV defending the administration’s agenda.
He has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2023, and previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023.
Prior to entering politics, the Oklahoman had a brief stint as a mixed martial arts or MMA fighter. He left the sport with an undefeated 5-0 record and was later inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
The senator is known as a firebrand and even challenged the Teamsters president to a brawl during a Senate hearing in 2023.
The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and DHS for comment.
